Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Bisexual Immigrant Nearly Deported Gets Reprieve

Even as Ivo and Lale submit their marriage to review by authorities,
the bisexual community has moved to embrace them, with plans for
rallies, courtroom cheer sections and support across social media.
Bisexual journalist Neal Boulton says, "America is the last great
bastion of freedom on the planet, though if Ivo Widlak is deported -- a
journalist who has used his freedom for the good of not only the United
States but of democracy itself -- a dangerous precedent will be primed
to injure other immigrants, not just of the LGBT community but of many
other creeds, as well." Bisexual advocate Morgan Goode told me, "This
case is a devastating reminder of the ways in which conversations around
marriage equality have failed us with their simplicity, and of how
bisexual people have been left behind by our fellow activists and
advocates in the lesbian and gay community." She also said that "if
lawmakers and the courts remain unaware of the realities of our lives,
our relationships will be unrecognized, invalidated and, in instances of
binational couples, ripped apart as the result of bi invisibility."

On this winter night, as I speak with Ivo, neither of us can guess
whether his marriage will be found valid despite his orientation, and I
ask him not to give up, because of what his case will mean for other
bisexual people in binational relationships. I tell Ivo, "Your case can
show people what it's like to be discriminated against, because even in
different-sex relationships bisexuals still face adversity," but Ivo
protests, saying he never intended to be a "bisexual activist." He's
right; Ivo's a regular person who loves his wife and never set out to be
a hero, just a husband. Let's hope he gets to be both this holiday
season.

UPDATE: On Monday, Dec. 17, 2012, Ivo Widlak's
case was extended until Dec. 12, 2013. The judge in Ivo's case has made
no decisions, so the case will remain under investigation by USCIS.
Ivo's attorney Ira Azulay
says, "We (and I) believe that USCIS is far too restrictive in the way
they interpret the immigration laws. Anytime we see people being
badgered by the system, we believe that we can help them push back. The
system for too long has counted on people giving up, and that just
should not be the result."